Wire fabric.



H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914;.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-IWASHINGTON. D c.

H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED IEBHI, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914.

ZSHBETS-SHEET Z.

ggzwen 1 q WASHINGTON. 1:, c4

HENRY RICHARDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

"WIRE FABRIC.

neeaese.

Application filed February 7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Henry ftioi-mnnsoiv, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovenflents in Wire Fabrics, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to wire fabrics, and

' has reference more particularly to wire fabrics of the kind at present extensively used to form the bottoms of beds, couches and like articles of furniture.

One type of bed and couch fabric now widely employed is characterized structurally by the use of parallel longitudinal strands of interhooked bent wire units or links, connected transversely at intervals by wire cross links. The weakest point in this type of fabric resides in the hooks by which the longitudinal units or links are connected up end to end. The stretching strains imposed on the longitudinal strands in service tend to pull or straighten out the free end portions of these hooks, and the capacity of the latter to resist these tension strains is very far below the tensional resistance capacity of the body portions of the units themsleves. This necessitates the employment of a much heavier and stiffer wire than would otherwise be necessary.

A leading object of my present invention is to provide a construction that will permit the use of a much lighter wire than has heretofore been possible or practicable in wire fabrics of this type, thereby reducing both the weight and the cost.

Another object of the invention, ancillary to the main object above stated, is to provide an improved construction of that type which dispenses with the use of separate cross links between the adjacent longitudinal strands, while preserving both the longitudinally and transversely foldable character of the fabric. This object i accomplish by means of a unit having a cross-arm consisting of an integral extension of one side of a crossed-wire loop formed at one end of the two-ply tension member of the unit of the structure and providing the free end of said extension with a hook that connects with a laterally adja cent strand of the fabric, the units being so assembled and interconnected as to avoid the presence anywhere in the longitudinal strands of the fabric of the open hooks or Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 746,807.

loops that are liable to pull out when the fabr c is subjected to lengthwise strain.

1th these objects in view, my invention resides in the novel fabric structure, and in the novel bent wire unit forming the basis thereof, substantially as hereinafter de scribed and definitely pointed out in the claims.

A fabric representing the best embodiment of the principle of my invention which I have thus far devised is illustrated in two slightly differing forms in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a bed bottom frame equipped with one form of my improved wire fabric, the latter being broken out bet-ween its ends; 2 is an edge View of Fig. 1, with the end bars of the frame appearing in cross-section; Fig. 3 is a perspective detail elevation of the bent wire member forming the base or unit of the fabric shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4; is a fragmentary perspective detail illustrating the formation at one edge of the complete fabric; Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views corresponding with Figs. 1, 2, 3 and a, respectively, and illustrating a slightly varied form of the fabric of Figs. 1 to l embodying the broad principle of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 10 may designate one of the longitudinal. bars of the bed frame, and 11 and 12 the end cross bars, united to the longitudinal bars by rivets 13. The end bars 11 and 15?. have upstanding flanges apertured as usual for the reception of the end hooks of the usual helical springs l4 and 15, through which the ends of the bed bottom fabric are commonly united. with the cross bars of the frame to furnish the desired resiliency and elasticity.

Referring now to the fabric itself, this is made up (except as to one longitudinal end thereof), of bent wire units interlooped end to end to form longitudinal strands, each of said units comprising a two-ply tension member having one closed end and a twoply crossed-wire loop at the other end for engagement with the two-ply crossed-wire loop and closed end, respectively, of longitudinally adjacent units, and an integral cross arm formed as an extension of one member of the two-ply crossed-wire loop and terminating in a hook comiected to an adjacent longitudinal strand.

Considering now more in detail the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, 16 and 17 designate straight, substantially parallel lengths of wire constituting the two limbs of a two-ply tension member forming the main body portion of the unit, and connected at one end by a U-bend 18 serving both as a cross-connection for the limbs 16 and 17 and as a unit connecting loop. At the other end of the member 16 the wire is bent downwardly and thence upwardly across itself forming one member 19 of a pair of closed loops at this end of the tension member, the wire extending thence above and across the limb 16 of the tension member in the form of a cross-arm 20, which terminates at its outer or free end in a downwardly bent snap hook 21. At the same end of the member 17 the wire is similarly bent downwar lly and thence upwardly across itself, forming the other member 22 of the pair of closed loops, the wire extending thence in the form of a hori- Zontally disposed, laterally projecting loop 23, the free end of which is clenched beneath the tension member 17. It will be noted that in the construction described the crossarm 20 constitutes an extension of the loop 19, springing from between the limbs 16 and 17 of the tension member, and also lying between the inner ends of the arms of the lateral loop 23. It will also be noted that the said loop 23 constitutes an extension of the loop 22 and likewise springs from be tween the limbs 16 and 17 of the tension member and is disposed directly opposite to the cross-arm 20.

In the preferred method of connecting up the units as shown in the drawings, U-bends 18 of one end row of units are engaged by the hooks of the adjacent row of helical springs, and the loops 19 and 22 of the other end row of units are likewise engaged with the hooks of the adjacent row of helical springs. Between the end rows, the U-bends 18 of each transverse row are interlooped with the loops 19, 22 of the next adjacent transverse row of units. The hooks 21 of each longitudinal row of units are engaged with the lateral loops 23 of an adjacent longitudinal row. At one longitudinal edge of the fabric (which would be the right-hand edge as shown in the drawings) the hooks 21 and the greater portion of the cross-arms 20 are omitted, only sufficient length of cross-arm wire being retained to bend or fold beneath the limb 16 of the tension member, as shown at 24 in Fig. 4; this construction being adopted in order to effect a neat finish at the edge of the fabric.

It will be observed that the described constructi'on entirely dispenses with open books or loops as a means of uniting the units end to end, while at the same time fully preserving the foldable character of the fabric both lengthwise and crosswise at the several points at which the units are int-erlooped and interhooked.

By reason of the fact that the cross-arms 20 and laterally projecting loops spring from between the limbs 16 and 17 of the main tension member, these limbs exert in a measure a clamping or gripping action upon the wire at these points, tending to prevent any contracting or pulling out of the loops.

Referring to the varied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, ofthe drawings, the ditlerence between this form and that already described resides in the fact that the horizontally disposed, lat erally projecting loop 23 of the unit is formed as an extension of the vertically dis posed closed loop 19, and extends across both limbs 16 and 17 of the tension member, its free end being clenched beneath the limb 16; and, similarly, the cross-arm 20 is formed as an extension of the closed loop 22, passing upwardly through the lateral loop 23 and thence laterally between the arms of the latter and across both limbs 16 and 17 of the tension member. In this construction, the cross tension on the fabric when under load obviously tends to draw the limbs 16 and 17 of the tension members closely together at their lower ends. it will further be noted that in both forms of the invention shown and described the wire of each limb of the tension member, after it has formed the loop 19 or 22 (or 19 or 22) is brought up and thence across itself; that is to say, the two ends of the wire forming the two-ply terminal loop are brought back from the extremity of the unit a distance equal to the length of the loop, whence one end is extended to form a cross-arm, and the other is securely clenched to the tension member. This construction is of great importance, since it securely fastens the loops of the fabric at the juncture points of the longitudinal and transverse members of the unit, thereby effectively preventing any pulling-ou-t or distortion of the terminal loops under strain, as Well as obviating stretching of the transverse connections. The fabric of my invention also entirely obviates the presence in the line of lengthwise strain of any hooks having free ends, and thereby makes feasible the use in the fabric of a much lighter gage of wire than has ever before been practicable in the wire link fabrics of this general class.

It will be manifest to those skilled in the art that the two forms of the invention herein shown and described do not necessarily exhaust the possible embodiments of the principle involved therein, but that they may be modified in detail as individual taste or udgment may dictate without involving any departure from the substantial principle of the structure or sacrificing any of the advantages and benefits attained thereby. Hence I do not limit the invention exclusively to the forms herein shown, except to the extent clearly indicated in specific claims.

I claim-- 1. A Wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units comprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end fo uning a closed end for the unit, a pair of crossed-wire loops at the other end of said tension member, and a laterally extending cross-arm on one side of said tension memher; the units of the longitudinal rows having their proximate closed ends and crossed wire loops connected, and the units of the tiansverse rows being connected through said cross-arms.

2. A wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units coin prising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end form ing a closed end for the unit, a pair of loops at the other end of said tension member, a laterally projecting loop on one side of said tension member, and a laterally extending cross-arm on the other side of said tension member; the units of the loi'igitudinal rows having their proximate closed ends and loops interlooped, and the units of the transverse rows having their proximate laterally projecting loops and cross-arms connected.

3. A wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units comprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end forming a closed end for the unit, a pair of loops at the other end of said tension member, a lat erally projecting loop on one side of said tension member formed as an extension of one of said loops, and a laterally extending cross-arm on the other side of said tension member formed as an extension of the other of said loops and terminating in a hook; the units of the longitudinal rows having their proximate closed ends and loops interlooped, and the units of the transverse rows having their proximate laterally projecting loops and cross-arms interhooked.

-l-. A wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units eomprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which lie closely adjacent to each other and are joined at one end by a U-bend, a pair of closed loops at the other end of said tension member, a laterally projecting horizontally disposed loop on one side of said tension member formed as an extension of one of said closed loops, and laterally extending cross-arm on the other side of said tension member formed as an extension of the other of said closed loops and terminating in a hook; the units of the longitudinal rows having their proximate U-bends and closed loops interlooped, and the units of the transverse rows having their proximate laterally projecting loops and crossarms interhooked.

5. A wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units comprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end. forming a closed end for the unit, a pair of closed loops at the other end of said tension memher, a laterally projecting loop on one side of said tension member formed as an exten' sion of one of said closed loops, and a laterally extending cross-arm on the other side of said tension member formed as an extension of the other of said closed loops, said cross-arm at its inner end lying between the arms of said laterally projecting loop and terminating at its outer or free end in a hook, the units of the longitudinal rows having their proximate closed ends and closed loops inter-looped, and the units of the transverse rows having their proximate laterally projecting loops and cross-arms inter-hooked.

6. A wire link fabric made up of integral bent wire units arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said units comprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end forming a closed end for the unit, a pair of vertically disposed closed loops at the other end of said tension member, a laterally projecting horizontally disposed loop on one side of said tension member formed as an extension of one of said closed loops and springing from between the limbs of said tension member, and a laterally extending cross-arm 011 the other side of said tension member formed as an extension of the other one of said closed loops, said crossarm also springing from between the lin'rbs of said tension member and between the arms of said laterally projecting loop and terminating at its outer or free end in a hook; the units of the longitudinal rows having their proximate closed ends and closed loops interlooped, and the units of the transverse rows having their proximate laterally projecting loops and cross-arms intorhooked.

7. A. wire fabric made up of parallel rows of tension units, each unit having a l1orizontal integral loop at one end and a vertical integral crossed-wire loop at the other end, the wire forming said vertical loop being continued from the rear end of that loop cross-wise to the unit toward the next row of units for a cross-connection between adjacent rows.

8. As an article of manufacture, an integral bent Wire unithaving a two-ply tension member, the two limbs of which are joined together at one end and at the other end are provided with a pair of loops the sides of each of which intersect or cross each other, and a cross-arm formed as an extension of one of said loops.

9. As an article of manufacture, an integral bent wire unit, comprising a two-ply tension member the two limbs of which are joined at one end of said tension member, a pair of vertically disposed closed loops at the other end of said tension member, a laterally projecting horizontal loop on one side of said tension member formed as an extension of one of said closed loops and springing from between the limbs of said tension member, and a laterally extending cross=arm on the other side of said tension member formed as an extension of the other of said closed loops, said cross-arm also springing from between the limbs of said tension member and between the arms of said laterally projecting loop and terminating at its outer or free end in a hook.

10. A wire fabric made up of parallel longitudinal strands of interlooped bent wire units, each of said units having a two-ply tension member the limbs of which are integrally joined at one end of the unit, and a two-ply loop at the other end of the unit, the free end of the wire forming one ply of said loop being firmly secured to the tension member, and the wire forming the other ply of said loop being extended to form an integral cross arm for connection to an adjacent longitudinal strand.

11. As an article of manufacture, a Wire fabric unitcomposed as to its body portion of double wires forming a pair of tension members integrally joined together at one end, and at the other end being provided with a pair of terminal loops the sides of each of which intersect or cross each other, and an integral cross-arm formed as an eX- tension of one of said terminal loops.

12. A wire fabric unit of that type having a body portion consisting of double wires joined together at one end of the unit, both wires being bent at the other end to form loops back of which loops each wire passes across itself, one wire forming a cross-arm and terminal hook and the other a lateral loop adapted to engage said terminal hook of an adjacent unit.

HENRY RICHARDSON. Witnesses SAMUEL N. POND, EDMUND G. INGERSOLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

